Chapter 364: Frozen World (2) (1/2)
The group moved forward, yet the air that hovered above their faces was no longer as it was before. It was a mixture of odd emotions. Their pace slowed down significantly and they made sure to examine every direction.
Artorias's words had truly resonated with them. He seemed like a wise man. The more they pondered over his words the more that the realization and possibility dawned on them. What he spoke could have very well been the truth, after all, many things pointed towards it.
Regrit had stopped heating Hikari due to the chances of another problem, which left her shivering and struggling to keep up with the relatively slow pace of the group. Regrit had even given her a blanket from his storage ring, but that seemed to make little to no difference other than to limit her movements.
Still, it did not take them too long to reach the glowing sign that began to lose its light when they drew near. It was one taller and thicker than they expected, made out of that same blue wood seen all around them. The sign itself was in the shape of an arrow, the tip pointing towards the downwards slope ahead.
Despite the tattered state of the material, the words etched onto it were more than readable, in some ways it could be argued that it was well maintained.
When they reached it, Artorias wasted no time translating the unknown words.
”The city of Vestora,” was what it read.
Indeed, as expected, it was pointing to civilization, one that lied beneath that downwards slope and thick, raging fog.
It was the only way conceivable for them to head, and Artorias wasted no time taking the lead as he walked onto the now slippery terrain.
They were even more cautious than before walking on this unstable ground. The wind was picking up and any wrong move would send them hurtling down the mountain.
The journey felt like it was taking forever, the sign from above had long disappeared in the fog and Hikari was on the verge of freezing. Even still, despite her anguish, she refused Regrit's offers for help as to not be a possible hindrance to the team.
However, eventually, she could endure no longer… Her knees felt like they were frozen ready to crack, and in a sudden wave of pain, her legs gave out, and her barely conscious body slid down the mountain as her teammates shuddered and watched in shock.
”HIKARI! Shit!! I knew she wasn't okay!” Regrit roared, and without a moment of hesitation, he jumped and gave up his footing in order to slide down behind her.
”You idiot! Don't be so reckless!” Moby's voice followed suit as he as well took the plunge, a hint of concern on his face.
Their teammates were still lost for words. They were not as enthusiastic jumping down an unknown mountain of fog, all they could do was watch unmovingly. But, that was when Artorias smiled and spoke.
”Onwards! Let us follow suit!” Artorias announced, using his blade to surf down the mountain like a snowboard.
”I'm coming too!”
”WHA-”
This gave Elizabeth the motivation to do the same, leaving a still hesitant Kai behind who eventually dived down as to not be the only one left.
Other than the thick, howling wind blowing on their faces, there was not much danger down the much quicker slippery path. Had it not been for the state of their teammates, they may have even considered it fun.
The further they went down, the more the fog began to subside until at one point, small triangles were seen in the distance getting ever so larger until the shadow of an entire city came into view.
However, none would have enough time to fully inspect the rapidly accelerating figure until suddenly...
*CRASH*
”Oprehensible voices he once heard now in a tongue he understood yet sounding the exact same.
He rubbed his blurry eyes that only saw a mess of white and blue, until that mess began to slowly take shape into reality.
<< I caught it! I caught it! Yipee!!” >>
”Wha…”